Visiting the Assassins
1619 Words
As the six assassins were being carried away by the Protection Squadron, Ernest was escorted to the nearest clinic to tend his wounds and injuries.
The doctor who was in the clinic diagnosed him for about five minutes. And then he reported to him the diagnosis.
It was just a minor injury, no life-threatening damages. If there was, it would be the poison dart that struck his neck. He was just lucky earlier that he has the system to counteract the poison by neutralizing it with something mysterious. All in all, he's fine, and we're ready to go.
He was just waiting for the doctor to formally discharge him and he'll be on his way.
Lying on his bed, Ernest recalled the assassination attempt. It was expected that there would be someone opposing his idealistic views. But, there was no threat in the city of Eighbury, and he was strict about making the existence of UNSP not known to the other cities except those who are in a trade agreement with them.
So who could order an assassination to him? He could only think of one. And that would be the Protector of the North, Duke Elm Gustave. He was the one whom he considered a threat to the UNSP. But how can he know about the existence of the UNSP?
An idea sparked inside his mind. It would be Peter, the ambassador of the Duke Gustave domain.
So Peter betrayed his trust by assuring the party to not disclose anything about the UNSP. Lex assured him that his loyalty can be bought with money but he thinks otherwise. That Peter is nothing but trash. He gritted his teeth in annoyance, killing him repeatedly inside his mind.
He stayed there for over two hours.
In his room, one visitor came.
"Ernest…! Are you okay?" Sophia didn't waste time saluting instead he rushed to him and surprisingly, hugged him.
"Why are you strolling in the street alone!"
He could feel her concern about him, of course, as their Volksfuhrer, his health is more important than anyone. So Ernest embraced her back.
"I didn't know that there are still rats in our city. What is the Protection Squadron doing? How did they get in here with their weapons concealed?"
"...Sorry." Sophia walked back a few steps and performed a salute at him. "The moment we heard the news, your cabinet members initiated an investigation. Those Protection squadrons who were in guard duty were severely punished at the hands of Louis Nicholas."
"By severely punishing you mean?... Cutting their pay?"
"No, by beating some sense into them. Due to their incompetence in duty, you almost died from the assassination."
"Almost died?" Ernest tittered, "I beat them all by myself. How can you exaggerate that part? Speaking of assassination, what do we know about the assassins?"
"Well, first and foremost they are not from here. In your industrialization act, one must have one identification papers to be considered as a citizen of Eighbury, hereby acknowledged by the UNSP. Their papers can't be found so that leads us to the conclusion that they are from other cities."
"Did they provide information to the Protection Squadron interrogating them?" Ernest asked.
"We are doing our best to get some information out of them but for now they won't yield, as if they are willing to die so that we won't know who ordered them to kill you."
"Well if they are loyalists then that must be the case but with money…No, you know what. Let's execute those bastards who tried to make fun out of me."
"Make fun out of you?" Sophia frowned.
"They lured me in their trap and decided to kill me by direct contact. I mean they are assassins, how could they be that stupid? Did they really think that I'm that weak? Enough...I want to see them…"
Ernest checked his body by moving his limbs. Feeling no pain in the areas he checked, he stood up and walked towards the door.
Sophia reflexively supported him by holding him by the arm, not wanting him to stagger or fall.
As soon as he reached for the doorknob, it suddenly opened, not by him but by someone beyond the door. Looking at his face, it was Nicholas.
Nicholas saluted.
"Sir, are you okay now? Why are you out of the bed? The doctor hasn't given you permission to leave yet…"
"Permission? I'll not be limited by someone lower than me. I'm already feeling well so...why did you come here? Sophia said you were handling the assassination incident."
As he said that, he simply passed Nicholas and walked along the hallway towards the exit. Nicholas followed him and matched his pace. While walking, they discussed the assassination incident.
"Yes and I'm sorry for that. The Protection Squadron I left someone in charge there currently flogging the five assassins as we speak."
"Five? As far as I know, there are six of them. The little girl, what punishment did you do to her?"
Nicholas lowered his head, "Sir...is it necessary to flog the little girl? I mean she's just about eight or ten years old. I think beating her would be too much…"
Ernest stopped and glared coldly at Nicholas. "So...are you implying that just because she's a child she is free of harm?"
Nicholas gulped at the menacing aura Ernest is emanating.
"That child almost killed me, fast enough to dodge a bullet and you're telling me that she shouldn't be harmed because she's a child? He could've killed me back there Nicholas. Don't be charmed by their cute appearances and lovely faces, inside, they are corrupted beyond liberation. When I was fighting her, her mind was only thinking of one thing. To kill me."
Arriving at the exit, Ernest stepped on the carriage, Nicholas followed suit. In Nicholas's perspective, he couldn't do what Ernest was expecting him to do. Torturing a child that is of similar age to his daughter? There's no way he could do that.
"Nicholas...I know it's hard for you to do that." Ernest said, "But we must know that in other countries, the children were being used as a tool, for example in war. We should treat those children as an enemy combatants or else our inconsideration would lead to our demise. You are a war general right? Probably you've encountered some of them."
"I just can't...do it." Nicholas stayed adamant in his stance. "I swore my loyalty to you for making the Crentis Kingdom a better place for our people and children. Torturing children is not on my list."
"So are you saying that you'll disobey a direct order from me?" Ernest sternly asked.
"I'll do anything you order me but torturing a child...no."
Ernest sighed. "Fine...I understand, if torturing a child is something that you cannot do then it's okay. There are a lot of people who will be willing to do that in the Protection Squadron. For now, I'll see them myself." Ernest said. "Sophia, I want you to assure the representative that no harm befall me and also tell them that to keep working on whatever is it they are doing."
Sophia saluted. "Yes, Volksfuhrer."
Ten minutes later, they arrived at the mansion. Sophia exited the carriage to execute her works in the mansion. She waved her hands back to the carriage that was disappearing in the distance.
The prison camp is just two minutes away from the mansion. There he'll meet the bastards who wanted to kill him.
…
"We've arrived, Volksfuhrer," Nicholas said. The two exited the carriages. Ernest took a glance at the prison. It was not technically a prison but a former knight's headquarters. It has a built-in prison inside were those who opposed his views, violated a law, and tried to assassinate him were all sent here.
Escorted by three Protection Squadron, they stepped inside.
Entering the damp, cold, miserable prison that is not suitable for human beings or any other beings, Ernest saw five clothless men whose hands were tied in a rope, hanging upwards. Their feet were bent as if they had no energy to stand. No, they can't stand because the five men here were unconscious.
They approached the five unconscious men whose body was covered by blood, bruises, and cuts. It seems that they are really punished severely.
Nicholas clicked his tongue as he glanced to one of the Protection Squadron.
"Get me the man I put in charge here," Nicholas ordered.
"Yes, Obergrupphenfuhrer."
The man he sent walked towards the room and called the man in charge of torturing the assassins. A muscular man who is over six feet tall enough to intimidate anyone exits the room, his uniform tainted by specks of blood probably from the captured assassins.
"Volksfuhrer... Obergruppenführer..." He stammered out a salute. He looked nervous.
Louis struck his head up, glaring at him. "Why are these men left unattended?"
"The captives were unconscious, Obergruppenführer."
"Yes, I can see that." Nicholas looked at the tall man, his mouth trembling.
"Your orders are to flog these men until they answer your questions."
"Obergrupphenfuhrer, the captives cannot wake up."He reasoned.
"Has he answered your question?"
"No, Obergruppenführer."
"Then your orders are to keep flogging him." Louis menacingly walked towards him. "You torture men. Ever have a problem beating a man to death?"
"No, Obergruppenführer."
"Good, then do as you're told."
The man grabbed a wooden paddle and resumed flogging the unconscious men. The paddle hitting a bare skin echoed in the prison room.
Ernest turned around indifferently and asked Louis.
"I want to see the child. Where is she?"
"She's locked in one of the cells, sir. I'll escort you to the place." Louis said.
- Writer
